Akemi
Takayama
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Violin
Akemi Takayama was raised in a musical household, born to a mother who is a professional violinist and a father who is a professional cellist. Her parents often performed and rehearsed string quartets at home -- music has always been a part of her life. A native of Japan and mother to four boys, Ms. Takayama, has an accomplished career as both a performer and educator. Her professional violin career began in Japan at the age of fifteen. She studied with Toshiya Eto and Ryosaku Kubota at the Toho School of Music in Tokyo, where she earned her bachelor's degree in music performance.
Many of her violin students have active careers performing in chamber music, orchestras, country music, and also producing their records. Many have pursued Master of Music or Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. She has recently earned her doctorate in music from SUNY at Stony Brook. She plays on a Gennaro Gagliano violin made in 1755, kindly loaned by Japanese-American collector and philanthropist Dr. Ryuji Ueno.
Ms. Takayama is currently an associate professor at Shenandoah Conservatory, holding the Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin. Since 2004, she has held the esteemed role of concertmaster at the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and since 2008 she has been the concertmaster for Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. She has performed throughout Japan, France, China, and the U.S.; recent symphony collaborations in Virginia include the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Opera Roanoke, Shenandoah Performs, the Chamber Orchestra of Southwest Virginia, and Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Takayama then traveled to the United States, where she earned a professional studies degree at the University of Wyoming, studying with Brian Hanly. During her graduate studies, she became a teaching assistant to famed violinist and pedagogue Donald Weilerstein at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She earned both the Artist Diploma and a Master of Music degree. Praised by Isaac Stern as a "true musician," she was invited to participate in the Marlboro Music Festival in 1997. She was a member of the internationally celebrated Audubon Quartet for fourteen years. During that time, the group toured regionally, nationally, and internationally and made several recordings on the Centaur and Composers labels.
Akemi
Takayama
Violin
Akemi Takayama was raised in a musical household, born to a mother who is a professional violinist and a father who is a professional cellist. Her parents often performed and rehearsed string quartets at home -- music has always been a part of her life. A native of Japan and mother to four boys, Ms. Takayama, has an accomplished career as both a performer and educator. Her professional violin career began in Japan at the age of fifteen. She studied with Toshiya Eto and Ryosaku Kubota at the Toho School of Music in Tokyo, where she earned her bachelor's degree in music performance.
Many of her violin students have active careers performing in chamber music, orchestras, country music, and also producing their records. Many have pursued Master of Music or Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. She has recently earned her doctorate in music from SUNY at Stony Brook. She plays on a Gennaro Gagliano violin made in 1755, kindly loaned by Japanese-American collector and philanthropist Dr. Ryuji Ueno.
Ms. Takayama is currently an associate professor at Shenandoah Conservatory, holding the Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin. Since 2004, she has held the esteemed role of concertmaster at the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and since 2008 she has been the concertmaster for Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. She has performed throughout Japan, France, China, and the U.S.; recent symphony collaborations in Virginia include the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Opera Roanoke, Shenandoah Performs, the Chamber Orchestra of Southwest Virginia, and Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Takayama then traveled to the United States, where she earned a professional studies degree at the University of Wyoming, studying with Brian Hanly. During her graduate studies, she became a teaching assistant to famed violinist and pedagogue Donald Weilerstein at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She earned both the Artist Diploma and a Master of Music degree. Praised by Isaac Stern as a "true musician," she was invited to participate in the Marlboro Music Festival in 1997. She was a member of the internationally celebrated Audubon Quartet for fourteen years. During that time, the group toured regionally, nationally, and internationally and made several recordings on the Centaur and Composers labels.